Honoring the Philly POPS and recognizing the orchestra's cultural impact and community contributions in the City of Philadelphia and beyond, on the occasion of the POPS' 40th Anniversary.

WHEREAS, The Philly POPS were founded in 1979, under the leadership of Moe Septee, and have grown over the last 40 years to become the largest stand-alone POPS orchestra in the United States. Each year, the POPS perform for over 150,000 individuals, delighting audiences with their inspired performance of American popular music; and

WHEREAS, Since its founding, the POPS have expanded their programming to include to six annual concert series and 11 Christmas shows as well as meaningful work that benefits local communities with a growing slate of in-school education programs; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, while the orchestra celebrated its 20th Anniversary, the POPS were designated as the official POPS Orchestra of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, In July, 2012, the POPS welcomed Frank Giordano as President and CEO. Under Mr. Giordano’s leadership, the POPS have increased their commitment to programming for students in Philadelphia, and for military veterans and the City’s police and fire personnel; and

WHEREAS, Through the

POPS In Schools

program, the POPS offer weekly supplemental music programs in four elementary schools across Philadelphia. Reaching over 2,000 students in Philadelphia each year, the

POPS In Schools

program has created the opportunity for Philadelphia’s talented young musicians to perform at several POPS’ events. Partnered with the Kimmel Center, the POPS present the annual All-City Jazz Festival which is aimed at recognizing Philadelphia’s most accomplished young performers; and

WHEREAS, The

POPS Outside

initiative is directed at bringing the talented and experienced musicians of the POPS to unexpected places, often to selected in-school and community center gatherings. Since the program’s initiation in December 2014,

POPS Outside

has engaged with new and diverse audiences in neighborhoods across the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Through their

Salute

series, the POPS have dedicated several annual events to celebrating military veterans and first responders in Philadelphia. Beginning with the inaugural

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

concert in 2014, the

Salute

series has expanded to include annual concerts on Memorial Day and on the 4th of July; and

WHEREAS, The annual

POPS on Independence

show has become a fixture of the orchestra’s events calendar since its inauguration in the 1980s. The show, held on Independence Mall in celebration of the July 4th holiday, attracts more than 15,000 attendees annually. The POPS have expanded their Independence Week repertoire in recent years, performing on July 4, 2017, in conjunction with Wawa’s 25th annual

Welcome America

festival. This performance saw the debut of the POPS’ BIG Band, and Philadelphians have eagerly awaited the orchestra’s return to the

Welcome America

Festival in 2018; and

WHEREAS, The Philly POPS are a cultural institution in the City of Philadelphia and the orchestra have dedicated their talents to engaging with diverse audiences from neighborhoods across the city. We join in celebrating the POPS’ 40th Anniversary and wish the orchestra continued success into the future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors the Philly POPS and recognizes the orchestra’s cultural impact in the City of Philadelphia and beyond, on the occasion of the POPS’ 40th Anniversary.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia POPS as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End